Two biographical films are showing on the last day of The International Festival of Films on Art at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec that should be of interest. The screening is on Sunday, March 29th and starts at 1:30 PM with Escape from Moominvalley, covering children's author and artist Tove Jansson, who also illustrated Tolkien's The Hobbit (second edition in Sweden, and later reused in the 1973 Finnish edition of The Hobbit as well).

If you plan on attending, please let me know!

For more general information, you can visit the Festival website directly. Links to the individual movies are below.

The year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Finnish artist and author Tove Jansson (1914-2001), who earned worldwide fame for her Moomin books for children. Written in Swedish, these stories of imaginary animals, which she herself illustrated, went on to become the subject of comic strips and animated films. But they represent only one facet of the artist’s creativity. This film focuses on her prolific work as a visual artist, which she carried out at the same time as her writing. Jansson, in fact, regarded herself above all as a painter. This film profile delves into Jansson’s life outside of the Moomins, recounting her early years and search for artistic identity. She is today ranked among the leading visual artists of post-war Finland.

The distinguished philologist J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) is best known as the author of the classic high-fantasy work The Lord of the Rings (1954-55). Inspired by Anglo-Saxon legends and Norse sagas, this novel had a profound impact on the cultural landscape of the 20th century, leading to a popular resurgence of fantasy literature. The book was a monumental—and partly unfinished—achievement, an unprecedented attempt to create, on his own, a coherent mythology for an entire country. Examining Tolkien’s diverse sources of inspiration, the film traces the genesis of the work in an attempt to understand how its influence and impact remain so strong forty years after his death.

Update: If you are up for watching it in French (no subtitles), J.R.R Tolkien: des Mots, des mondes is available on YouTube.

The seller states "Comes with a certificate of authenticity for peace of mind", I must say it does not give me any peace of mind. I can't read the signature, Tolkien's name is spelt wrong and the company that has supposedly authenticated this (Unique Autographs inc.) has no presence on the Internet.

This just in from Thornton's Bookshop - use their contact info at the bottom if you are interested in anything!

[F0240-4] AUDEN, W.H.,. Good and evil in the Lord of the Rings...., Oxford, 1993, 16pp., including the stiff front cover, issuedoriginally as free insert for the 1992 catalogue Tolkien andFriends number 4, issued on the occasion of the centenarycelebrations at Keble college, Oxford. this is one of the 26copies marked A - Z for friends of the publisher, never madeavailable in the trade. Printed on single sides, A-4 withbound-in front cover in 3 colours (initials W and A) on fineconqueror paper, bound in paper covered boards and a leatherspine with the embossed letter G on front board. This editionalso has a colophon which did not appear in the regular edition.The letter G also appears handwritten below this colophon. Actualyear of publication was 1992. [ Tolkien inklings Oxford ] £45.00

[F0240-3] AUDEN, W.H.,. Good and evil in the Lord of the Rings...., Oxford, 1993, 16pp., including the stiff front cover, issuedoriginally as free insert for the 1992 catalogue Tolkien andFriends number 4, issued on the occasion of the centenarycelebrations at Keble college, Oxford. there were 26 copiesmarked A - Z for friends of the publisher, never made availablein the trade. Printed on single sides, A-4 with front cover in 3colours (initials W and A) on conqueror paper, This edition has acolophon which did not appear in the regular edition. . Actualyear of publication was 1992. this copy in loose sheets isstamped below the colophon: Uncorrected proof copy followed bythe title. [ Tolkien inklings Oxford ] £18.00

[F1048] Hadow, W.H.. Essays and Studies By Members of the EnglishAssociation Volume XVII. Oxford at the Clarendon press, 1932, 105[10] pp., contains a.o. C.S. LEWIS: What Chaucer Really Did to IlFilostrato. pp. Andre Maurois: Proust et Ruskin a.o. 56-75.?Lewis' article, an analysis of Boccaccio's work of that name as asource for Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde, became for decades themost cited study of Chaucer's great poem, not only because of theinsightful analyses of specific passages it offered but moreimportantly because of the powerful theory that drove it. Lewiscontended that Boccaccio's version of the story was a product ofthe emerging Italian Renaissance, while Chaucer systematicallyre-medievalized it, emphasizing a medieval interest in didacticrhetoric and Courtly Love.[DL 2/1] £19.95

[012832-1] HAMMOND, W.G.,. J.R.R.Tolkien: A DescriptiveBibliography.. With the assistance of D.A.Anderson. 434 pp. Boundin blue silver cloth. this is the latest reprint, not the firstissue. £95.00

[F0684-1] Hammond, Wayne G., (ed. And designer). TolkienCentenary Conference Keble College, Oxford 17 - 24 August 1992.A-3 POSTER. The Centenary Conference Souvenir poster with coverart by Patrick Wynne The Tolkien Centenary Conference was held atKeble College, Oxford, from August 17th - 24th, 1992, tocelebrate the centenary of the birth of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien.The conference was run by the Tolkien Society and the AmericanMythopoeic Society, and incorporated the annual conferences(Oxonmoot 1992 and Mythcon XXIII) held in that year. A-3 size£15.00

[020330] LEWIS, C.S.,. That Hideous Strength. A modern fairy-talefor grown-ups .. .., John Lane, 1945, first edition. In new blackcloth binding and with a new title label on the spine. no jacket.First edition, text ,war time quality, sl. darkened.[WB4] £16.00

[F0061] Nasmith, Ted. Tolkien Diary 2003. .., Harper Collins,2002, The annual Tolkien diary, containing all-new artworkdepicting scenes based on the second book of JRR Tolkien "TheLord of the Rings". a perfect copy without d/j as issued £18.00

[F1158] Rorabeck, Robert,. TOLKIEN?S HEROIC QUEST. A new criticalstudy of J.R.R. Tolkien, concentrating on some of his lesserknown works, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, TheHomecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm?s Son and The Battle ofMaldon, as well as well-known works such as The Silmarillion andTolkien?s Middle-earth legends. £14.95

[F1695] Royal Mail First Day Cover - Magical Worlds.. StampedOxford Post Office 21 July 1998. Stamp Details: 20p The Hobbit;26p The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; 37p The Phoenix and theCarpet; 43p The Borrowers; 63p Through the Looking Glass. mintset as issued by the Royal Mail, unused in glassine sleeve.[ C.S.Lewis Tolkien Lewis Carroll ] £15.00

[F1694] Royal Mail First Day Cover - Magical Worlds.. StampedOxford Post Office 21 July 1998. Stamp Details: 20p The Hobbit;26p The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; 37p The Phoenix and theCarpet; 43p The Borrowers; 63p Through the Looking Glass.Addressed by hand to the Literature department of Thornton'sBookshop in Oxford [ C.S. Lewis Tolkien Lewis Carroll ] £15.00

[F0728] Schuchart, Max. Tolkien In De ban Van Zijn Werk. anintroductory booklet to Tolkien's works in Dutch published by HetSpectrum £7.95

[F0174] TOLKIEN J R R. The Hobbit or there and back again. ..,Allen & Unwin, 1976, the De Luxe edition with colour illustrationby Tolkien (with colour added by H.E. Riddett ) see Hammond &Anderson A3o (page 51) Black cloth over boards, with Smaug designstamped in red, silver and gold to front board in gilt, silver ,and red. In the original black paper box with label to the front. Maps in red and black to both endpapers and 13 colour plates.Published on 2 September 1976, number of copies unknown. A veryfine copy, only the label on the front of the box is a bit dusty/soiled. the original sl. frayed tissue wrapper still present andcomplete. £225.00

[F1698] TOLKIEN, J.R.R.,. Royal Mail First Day cover - TolkienThe Centenary - 1992 - 8 Stamps In Panel. This first day cover,sent from the Oxford post office to the JRR Tolkien department ofthornton's Bookshop, then in Broad street, has the Oxford postoffice date stamp 27 October 1992. £25.00

[F1622] Tolkien, J R R. Mr. Bliss.. ISBN: 0048232157. GeorgeAllen & Unwin, 1982, landscape format hardback with dust jacket,illustrated by the Professor for his own children when they werevery young and published after his death. Each page has Tolkien'soriginal manuscript (text and coloured illustrations) reproducedin facsimile (with facing printed text). a fine copy in finejacket [DL] £25.00

[F1623] Tolkien, J R R. The Lord of the Rings Diary 2007.Illustrated By Alan Lee.. ISBN: 0007225644. Harper Collins,2006,A immaculate unmarked copy, glossy hardback ? ** The 2007diary features 13 paintings and illustrations by Alan Lee and ismore sumptuous than ever. It is not only illustrated by theacclaimed artist, it has been designed by him, with the same careand attention to detail that has seen his work embraced by theTolkien Estate, Peter Jackson and discerning fans around theworld. To accompany each watercolor, every month featurescomplementary line drawings selected by Lee from his Lord of theRings Sketchbook; there are also brand new sketches producedexclusively for this diary, which are further enhanced withcommentary by the artist. Alan Lee has depicted famous scenesthat include Gollum and Bilbo, Rivendell and Smaug the Dragon,but these new pencil drawings will take the reader deeper intothe enchanting world of Middle-earth than ever before. [DL]£25.00

[F0176] TOLKIEN, J.J.R.,. The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit. TheSilmarillion 5 Volumes.. 2002 (2001 ?) /2004. One of the FolioSociety's hand numbered limited edition of 1750 copies.Quarter-bound in Moroccan goatskin leather, with sides ofhand-woven pure Indian silk. Illustrations drawn by Eric Fraserfrom original designs by Ingahild Grathmer (pseud. of the Queenof Denmark). Gilded top edges, with ribbon markers. Calligraphyon spines and slipcase by John Andrew. Slipcases bound in fullMoroccan goatskin leather, with scalloped edges. 1328 pages intotal for the Lord of the Rings. Together with The Hobbit (2003)and the Silmarillion (2004 ) Illustrated by Francis Mosley,printed at the Bath Press, All volumes have the same number.Payment for this title by bank transfer only. Forwarding by UPSin the UK, by DHL abroad £1,750.00

[F0388-2] TOLKIEN, J.J.R.,. The Silmarillion. ISBN: 0007136609.With Christopher Tolkien's 1977 and 1999 forewords. HarperCollins , First edition thus, 2002. xxiv, 365pp, colour maps asend papers. quarter black leather binding with gil titlet, andgilt embossed design on front board, all edges gilt. . In blackleather covered slipcase. The edition was limited to 1000 copies,shrink wrap preserved, has the numbers 1 to 9 in the colophon.The first publication of a deluxe edition of The Silmarillion,featuring the revised, reset text, The Silmarillion is an accountof the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien's world. It is theancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Ringslook back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond andGaladriel took part. The tales of The Silmarillion are set in anage when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, andthe High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of theSilmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.Included in the book are several shorter works. The Ainulindaleis a myth of the Creation and in the Valaquenta the nature andpowers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabeth recountsthe downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end ofthe Second Age and Of the Rings of Power tells of the greatevents at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord ofthe Rings. This was the first luxe edition of this pivotal work,featuring the revised, corrected text and including, by way of anintroduction, a fascinating letter written by Tolkien in 1951 inwhich he gives a full explanation of how he conceived the earlyAges of Middle-earth. Bound in quarter black leather, and set ina protective slipcase, still shrink wrapped. Immaculate copy£150.00

[F0176-3] TOLKIEN, J.J.R.,. The Hobbit or There and Back Again.One of the Folio Society's hand numbered limited edition of 1750copies. Quarter-bound in Moroccan goatskin leather, with sides ofhand-woven pure Indian silk. Illustrations drawn by Eric Fraserfrom original designs by Ingahild Grathmer (pseud. of the Queenof Denmark). Gilded top edges, with ribbon markers. Calligraphyon spines and slipcase by John Andrew. Slipcase bound in fullMoroccan goatskin leather, with scalloped edges. (2002 )Illustrated by Francis Mosley, printed at the Bath Press, 245pages. An immaculate copy £375.00

[093039-1] TOLKIEN, J.R.R.. The Hobbit.. Illustrated by Alan Lee.Published by Harper Collins exclusively for Hatchard's of Londonin 1997 in a limited edition signed by the illustrator tocelebrate the 60th Anniversary of the original publication of TheHobbit. In a quarter leather binding in slip-case. Gilt letteringon spine. Splendid copy in new condition. numbered copy. One ofonly 600 issued. £650.00

[F0060] TOLKIEN, J.R.R.,. Tolkien Diary 1992. .., ISBN:0261102281. The annual Tolkien diary, issued in the centenaryyear with tolkien's own illustations. A perfect copy, not used ,issued without d/j £25.00

[091244] TOLKIEN, J.R.R.,. Hobbit Albo Tam I z Powrotem. (TheHobbit in Polish). |, illustrated by Alan Lee . Amber, 2000, 1stedition thus , perfect copy in good d/j. (d/j sl. frayed at thetop. the Polish edition published by Amber. this is the onlyedition which has been published in a larger size, top of thewrapper sl. wrinkled; [ DL 1/5] £25.00

[F0173] TOLKIEN, J.R.R.,. The Hobbit or There and Back Again.Illustrated By the Author.. Houghton, Houghton Mifflin, 1987, thefiftieth anniversary edtuion. long foreword by ChristopherTolkien.Bound in gold imitation leather over boards, 50thanniversary device stamped on upper cover in green, repeated on apaper label on the slipcase also of gold inmitation leather.Published on 26th October 1987 in an edition of 15000 copies [see Hammond page 63 ] dedication in biro by previous owner onf.e.p. o/w a fine copy £45.00

[F0875] TOLKIEN, J.R.R.,. The Hobbit or There and back AgainIllustrated By Alan Lee 8 Different Editions Illustrated By AlanLee..1) Harper Collins, 1997, with the pre-publication price of £ 20until December 1997 £25.00 from 1 January 1998 printed on theinside of the dust wrapper.2) Boston-New York, Houghton-Mifflin, 1997 (0997 printed oninside dust wrapper3) the edition published specially for Dealerfield Ltd. in 2000.the printing on the spine of the dust wrapper of this edition isdifferent and there is a difference in colours.4) Hobbitinn eda ut og heim aftur. Reykjavik, 1997, the Icelandicedition.5) Hobbit albo tam i z powrotem., the Polish edition published byAmber. this is the only edition which has been published in alarger size, top of the wrapper sl. wrinkled;6) Hobbitten eller ud og hjem igen. The Danish edition publishedby Gyldendal. (Gyldendals bogklubber);7) El Hobbit o historia de una ida y de una vuelta. the Spanishedition published by Ediciones Minotauro.8) Le Hobbit traduit de l'Anglais par Francis Ledoux, the Frenchedition published by Christian Bourgeois. This copy isaccompanied by a peronal note by the publisher (postcard)A fine collection, apart from the minor wrinkling to the dustwrapper of the Polish edition all in very fine condition.£125.00

[F1561] Tolkien, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel].. The Lord Of The Rings:3 volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Returnof the King First editions, first Impressions. George Allen &Unwin Ltd, 1954-1955 First editions, first impressions, Volumeone: The Fellowship of the Ring,1954, 424pp., + folding map inthe rear. 3000 copies were printed . Volume two: The Two Towers,1954, 353pp., + folding map in the rear. 3250 copies wereprinted. With the errors on pp. 111 and 350. (Hammond-Anderson p.98) Volume three The Return of the King, 1955, 416pp., + foldingmap in the rear. 7000 copies were printed. With the signaturemark '4' and the slipped type on page 49 and the errors on pp. 31101 and 209 (Hammond-Anderson p. 98 ) Octavo, In a splendid newfull maroon leather binding by the Temple Bindery of Oxford (IanBarnes) 5 traditional raised bands, panelled spines double-ruledin gilt, gilt ring and eye embossed devices to the front boards,Gilt inner dentelles. 2 black leather title labels on the spines,top edges stained red. The 2 first volumes were Philip Toynbee'spersonal copies and he must have referred to them in his nowinfamous 1961 Observer "In our time" article, where a.o. hewrote: "...most of his more ardent supporters were soon beginningto sell out their shares in Professor Tolkien, and to-day thosebooks have passed into a merciful oblivion." Housed in acustom-made dark red velvet lined cloth slip case. An exquisiteset. With letter by previous owner David Snowdon who received thevolumes 1 and 2 as a gift from Philip Toynbee in 1977. David ismentioned several times in Toynbee's book "Part of a journey"(1981) wwhich covers a period between 1977 and 1979 when bothwere members of "The Barn House Community" £4,500.00

[F1561-C] Tolkien, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel].. The Two Towers firstedition ,first impression AND The Return of the King .Firstedition, first impression, 2nd state. 2 Volumes. The two towers:George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1954, 353pp. 3250 copies were printed.With the errors on pp. 111 and 350. (Hammond-Anderson p. 98) )The return of the King, 1955, 416pp., First edition, firstimpression, 2nd state 7000 copies were printed. Both volumesOctavo, In splendid new full green leather bindings with 5 raisedbands, panelled spines double-ruled in gilt, gilt ring and eyeembossed devices to the front boards, Gilt inner dentelles. 2black leather title labels on the spines, top edges stained red.which in The two towers has slightly run into the tops of the 3first leaves. maps in the rear. Texts slightly yellowed as usualvery occas. Slight spotting. . no jackets. there were 2 states ofthe first impression of the Return of the King: (1) on p. 49 (4,recto) the signature mark 4 is present, and all lines of type sagin the middle; (2) on p. 49 no signature mark is present, and allthe lines of type are straight ( Hammond/Anderson page 86. )£1,350.00Note: we are looking for the missing volume, any conditionconsidered

[F1561-B] Tolkien, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel].. The Two Towers Firstedition, first Impression. George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1954, 353pp.3250 copies were printed. With the errors on pp. 111 and 350.(Hammond-Anderson p. 98) ) Octavo, In a splendid new full greenleather binding with 5 raised bands, panelled spines double-ruledin gilt, gilt ring and eye embossed devices to the front boards,Gilt inner dentelles. 2 black leather title labels on the spine,top edges stained red. which has slightly run into the tops ofthe 3 first leaves. map in the rear. £750.00

[F2422-2] TOLKIEN,Dzh. R.R.,. Khobbit, Ili Tuda I Obratno. ill.M.Belomlinskii. .., Leningrad, Detskaya lit-ra, 2nd edition 1989;254pp., printed boards in colours, linen spine wwith title, withhalftones, many of which in sepia, brown end papers with colouredillustations The drawing of the Hobbit on the front cover inshows the hero with rather hairy legs. Illustrations by MikhailBelomlinkskij. £15.00

[F1755-10] Unwin , Rayner,. The making of the Lord of the rings.Limited Edition of 12 Copies. ISBN: 1854760114. Originallypublished in a limited edition of 250 Copies.Issued on theoccasion of the centenary celebrations at Keble college Oxford.1992, 8pp., text and covers on cream paper . In addition to the100 copies reprinted in 2007 This is one of the 12 copies boundin Italian hand-made marbled paper covered boards and linen spinewith title label £35.00

[F0139-2] Unwin , Rayner,. The making of the Lord of the rings.Limited Edition of 100 Copies. ISBN: 1854760114. OriginallyIssued in a limited edition of 250 copies on the occasion of thecentenary celebrations at Keble college Oxford. 1992, 8pp., textand covers on cream paper and thin board. Reprinted (100 copies)in 2007 £6.95

[F0159] WILLIAMS, Charles (Charles Walter Stansby Williams),1886-1945. Heroes and Kings.. With wood engravings by NormanJanes.Henderson and Spalding Ltd., at the Sylvan Press, SylvanGrove, Camberwell, London S.E. 15, 1930, small-folio, 40 lvs.(four of these are blanks at the end). Red buckram decorated withgilt crown and sword within a stone archway on front and rearcover; blank spine , red head and tail bands, gilt top edge ,bottom end side edges untrimmed Printed on Barcham Greenhand-made paper, set in eighteen-point Monotype Caslon. NineteenArthurian poems by Charles Williams, Book design by Hubert J.Foss, Limited to 300 copies (250 for sale) This is number 26signed by Charles Williams, Norman Janes and Hubert J. Foss. Asmall rust spot on e.p of inner board paperclip) and 2 mm brownspot on 2nd leaf [signed] £750.00